
Roland RS9
Roland's new entry-level performance synth is a full-length yet lightweight synth-action keyboard with ready-to-go sounds derived from recent JV and XV expansion boards. Nick Magnus investigates the RS9's family tree.
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Roland's new entry-level performance synth is a full-length yet lightweight synth-action keyboard with ready-to-go sounds derived from recent JV and XV expansion boards. Nick Magnus investigates the RS9's family tree.

They say small is beautiful, and nowhere is that idea better illustrated than in the tiny attic studio belonging to Rose Rylands, recent graduate of the BA Creative Music Technology degree course at University College Scarborough.

Read what the MPG (Music Producers Guild) jury thought of the latest collection of SOS readers' submitted recordings.

Most modern musicians use samples, even if only in Sample & Synthesis-based keyboards or virtual instruments. But sampling itself has become something of a lost art. In the first part of a short series on rediscovering this skill, we look back at how the technique and the technology developed.

Looking like a 23rd-century Minimoog pumped full of anabolic steroids, Yamaha's sequel to the hugely successful DJX offers more of the same sampling, sequencing and performance features. Paul Farrer doesn't want to rock, DJX — but it's making him feel so nice...

The award-winning Chris Trimby not only tours with top artists and spends summers working the major festivals but also mixes live sound for TV music shows, including BBC TV's Top Of The Pops, proving how varied and interesting a career as a monitor engineer can be. We find out how it all happened and what's involved...

Last month Robin Morley told of how, armed with a new understanding of the music business, he set out to secure himself another record deal 10 years after signing his first one. In the second half of his feature, he explains how a willingness to think about marketing and promotion bore fruit for him — and how it can work for you.

Artist, producer and remixer Arthur Baker must surely be one of the seminal figures in electronic music history, with a career that initially took off with the production of Afrika Bambaata's hugely influential 'Planet Rock'. Now he's taking a new direction, as boss and A&R executive of his own record label. Richard Buskin goes all starry-eyed...

The challenge: to remix 10 Depeche Mode albums in surround — while recreating the signature sounds created by the band and some of the worlds greatest producers. As Mute Records Head Engineer Kevin Paul explains, it was never going to be easy!

The big news for Logic users is not the new features in Logic Pro and Express, but the new (and extremely competitive) pricing. So which of the two is the bundle for you?

Think your own music is good? Listen to these tracks from SOS readers and see if you agree with the good Doctor's prognosis...

U2 have always striven for a new sound on each of the records they make, and during the sessions for their latest album, their aim was once again 'to construct a new sound for U2 whilst still making them sound like U2'. To this end, they brought in production wizard Flood and Scottish dance artist Howie B and set about new methods of recording. Paul Tingen investigates the art of Pop...

What does the SOS team want for Christmas this year?

Since UK garage emerged from the underground last year, record companies have been scrambling to sign up the stars of the latest Big Thing. Foremost among these is Mark Hill, who, as well as being one half of Artful Dodger, has also produced Craig David's hit single and debut album Born To Do It.

In these days of fast, flexible computers and powerful virtual instruments, has the hardware workstation synth had its day? Alesis's Fusion mounts the case for the defence, offering four synthesis types, sampling, sequencing and hard disk recording — for under £1000.

One of the unwitting founding fathers of so-called 'new age' music, Kitaro has journeyed down many musical roads in his 20-year career. Paul Tingen reports.

There was always something quite special about Roland's classic Jupiter 8 analogue megasynth, but can Arturia capture that magic with their emulation?

The reputation of Sequential Circuits is up there with the likes of Moog and ARP, but is the first Prophet in 20 years a worthy addition to that heritage or a cash-in on former glories?

Producer Stuart Epps began his music business career in 1967 at Dick James Music before going on to work with Gus Dudgeon, Elton John, Jimmy Page, Chris Rea and other top names. He now runs his own commercial studio, situated in the old Mill Studio complex, and is working on a number of projects, including one with Bill Wyman. Here he explains why he preferes 'live' music to almost anything else...

Although Craig Armstrong has been building strong writing and arranging credits since the start of the '90s with such artists as Massive Attack, Madonna, Suede and U2, it's only in recent months that he's come to the fore as a solo artist in his own right, with his new album The Space Between Us. Paul Tingen notches up some Frequent Flyer miles to talk to him.